Program Reviews

This was honestly one of the best experiences I have had in my life. I was really unsure at first but after a few days I could not believe how incredible the program was. I actually enjoy gardening now from all the conservation work I did. I was so surprised about that and so was my family! The work actually turned out to be so much fun. I loved getting up and helping out anyway I could.

I still have a huge grin on my face every time I think for my adventure with Pacific Discovery. I have so many amazing memories and experiences I will never forget. One of my favourite experiences was getting to try a circus class in Byron Bay. I had always had an interest but I've never had the opportunity. My group leader Kim was so awesome she told me about some circus classes and made sure that I got to go to the class by helping me research places and driving me there as well. Another favourite memory of mine is when my group was at Pelorus in New Zealand and we all walked to a waterfall to look at glow worms. It was just so beautiful and so amazing to share that experience with everyone.

Scott and Rachel have created an amazing program. I was so scared about what my group was going to be like and my group leader. I found out I had nothing to worry about. Everyone was in the same position I was. We all wanted to be friends and get along which was so nice. I could not have asked for a better group of people. My group leader Kim was also just so special. She was always there to talk and was so willing to make this trip special for everyone there. It was so nice to be on a program where you could tell everyone involved wanted the trip to be the best for every participant. At times, yes, it was tough but it was worth every minute. I still can't believe how much I have grown. I know now how strong I actually am which I am so grateful for.

In New Zealand and in Australia, I woke up each day with bright eyes and ready feet. I had not a care for my aches or pains (though there were always many) and felt full of a never ending supply of adventuresome spirit. It was very rare for one of us to feel a lack of excitement for the day's plans- though, of course, it did happen; living every hour with the same group of people for two months comes with its inherent challenges. But, waking up with the next dawn, I would realize that I was on the top of a mountain in Kahurangi National Park, and that I had trekked all the way up there on my own two feet. Or that I was camping in the bush in Australia, being woken by the laughter of the kookaburras. Or yawning, sore as can be, at Surfaris Surf Camp in Crescent Head, ready to throw myself into the arms of the Pacific Ocean once again, to be battered by its waves until I could learn to ride them. I felt giddy with the beauty of the world and its people. This trip never felt like...a program to me. It just felt like living. Like true, joyous living.

This program was essential to my successful gap year. Meeting everyone for the first time in Auckland, NZ will be an unforgettable experience. I remember feeling scared, nervous, and awkward... but so did everyone else. Seeing how our group dynamics changed by the end of the trip was pretty incredible. We were so close that we still make time to meet up (after the program)! The people I met on this trip will hold a special place in my heart. We went through some hard times, and the best of times. We laughed, cried, sang, and danced together. They are seriously the coolest people I know, and I am so fortunate to have met them!

On another note, Pacific Discovery provided me with the chance to fully explore New Zealand and Australia. We went on many adventures and I learned some lifelong skills-- both technical and social. I find myself often wishing I was back on this program!

Even after months to process, my Pacific Discovery experience is still difficult to put into words. I feel so privileged to have participated in the New Zealand/ Australia semester program that Scott and Rachel so brilliantly planned.

Highlights for me (although difficult to choose only a few) were learning to rock climb, sleeping under the stars multiple times, feeding and playing with eels at Nelson Lakes, staying up late to see a cavern of glow worms light up, meeting my Pacific Discovery family, volunteering at a permaculture farm in the bush, learning to surf in an amazing surf town in Australia and volunteering and exploring the amazing Mimiwhangata Coastal park.

It would be a lie to say the trip wasn't challenging, but the trials are what make Pacific Discovery so unique. On the trip I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone which I wouldn't have done otherwise when traveling on my own. Which was awesome. Every trial resulted in a glorious triumph and incredible learning experience. The hardest part for me was scrambling through the cave on the Kahurangi hiking trip. Being claustrophobic, I was definitely scared. Pushing through it with friends and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was one of the most rewarding parts of the trip.

Although I considered myself an experienced traveler, I learned more I could ever dream of on the trip. I learned so much about the countries we were in, about the people of the countries, relationships with others on the team and strangers all while discovering so much about myself. Scott and Rachel are two of the most inspiring people I've ever met. They are geniuses who have a beautiful relationship with world around them and so many of the people in it. Also I wouldn't have wanted our trip to be lead by anyone other than our leader, Kim. She is so kind-hearted and has a gift for sharing her happiness and knack for adventure with everyone she meets. I always felt safe yet independent during the trip. Pacific Discovery gave me the confidence I need to continue traveling and discovering the world in a way that brings myself, those around me and the earth happiness.

I decided to do this trip as a chance to try things that I had never done before and be in a part of the world that I had never been to. This trip did exactly that. I had never been back packing, or canyoning, or canoeing, or anything of that sort before this trip. My leader (Dan) was as helpful and fun as anyone could have been. He was very supportive and helped everyone learn things they struggled with. By the end of the trip we were all comfortable living outdoors, cooking our own meals, and really traveling by ourselves.

Not only that, but I got to experience one of the biggest rugby tournaments in the world in New Zealand, I went to the famous Steve Irwin Zoo in Australia, oh and I jumped out of a plane 13,500 feet in the air! While all of these things were cool, I really felt I could enjoy these things because I was still giving back to the country. We did many volunteer projects during the trip and it made me feel like I was doing something productive for someone other than me. It's easy to be enjoying all that the countries had to offer, but it wouldn't feel right unless we did something in return.

I knew nobody going into the trip, and now I can proudly say that I keep in contact with everyone from my trip still a year and a half later. This was an amazing trip with amazing people and is truly an incredibly unique experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Scott and Rachel have put together a program unlike any other gap year program offered. Pacific Discovery is not just an ordinary gap year experience, it reaches above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The program is well-thought out, balancing the perfect amount of work and play. When I was searching for a program, I was looking for something that involved a substantial amount of community service, but also a program that allowed me to spend some time focusing on myself and pushing my boundaries. I wanted a program where I could travel with friends and be surrounded by people who were like-minded. I wanted something where I was going to grow as a person and challenge myself. Pacific Discovery blew my expectations out of the water.

Pacific Discovery allowed me the opportunities I would have never received if I had travelled elsewhere or on my own. They have made incredible connections with the people that we worked with and I genuinely felt like I was contributing something when I was doing environmental work. For example, we worked with a park ranger and his family in Mimiwhangata (New Zealand) doing various jobs each day. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that hauling logs into bushes, whacking weeds, gardening, planting trees, or fixing up roads could be so much fun. Working with wonderful, kind people makes such a huge difference. Each day was a new adventure and once we got the jobs done we were able to relax by the beach in the one of most beautiful places in the world. It was incredible to be able to talk to the family and park ranger to see what a difference a group of 13 people can make. One of my favourite volunteer experiences was working on a perma-culture farm in Australia. We were welcomed into a family's home to learn about the perma-culture lifestyle and help them with their home. We stayed in old train carriages that they had turned into quaint bedrooms. During the day we worked either gardening, making a fence, or building terraces. We learned all about sustainable living through hands-on work experience. I could have never imagined how much I learned in just one week. Overall, I was amazed at how many wonderful people Scott and Rachel had connected with over the years and how much I enjoyed working on various projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The many adventures that I partook in were definitely a highlight of my life. My favourite part of the whole trip was going on a 90km canoe trip down the Whanganui River. It was near the beginning of the trip and it was a wonderful way to bond with other participants on the program. I was able to spend one-on-one time with different people each day in a canoe. It made us work together and allowed us to get to know one another very quickly. Some other highlights of the trip were learning how to rock climb, being able to stand up on a surf board after a 4 day surf camp, pushing myself out of my comfort level while hiking in Kahurangi National Park, snorkelling with the turtles, matarays, and hammerhead sharks, canyoning and abseiling in the Blue Mountains, spending a day at the most enjoyable water park, white water rafting and not falling out of the boat, and bungy jumping 134 metres off of a cable car. The program allowed me to challenge myself in ways I never thought imaginable and grow into a stronger, more confident person.

Lastly, the people on the trip were what made the trip so incredible. Scott and Rachel pour their heart and soul into everything that is planned. I was privileged to spend the first 3 weeks with Scott on our program and a few days with Rachel as well. It just shows that they care about the participants and they want to make your experience as wonderful as it can be. Also, my trip leader, Kim, was one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She was well-organized, thoughtful and friendly, made sure everybody was comfortable, had a tremendous amount of life experience, and was one of the most kind-hearted, selfless people I have ever met. Also, the fact that she was from Australia made all the difference when it came to knowing her way around the places we visited. I feel as though I have a second family with Scott, Rachel, Kim, and all of the other participants on the program. I wouldn't have wanted to travel with anybody else.

I highly recommend Pacific Discovery if you are looking for a gap year experience of a lifetime.

My gap year trip to New Zealand and Australia will go on my list of most amazing experiences of my life. Not only was I half a world away from home, but I participated in so many activities that would usually fall outside of my comfort zone. After beating cancer, I thought challenging myself both mentally and physically would be an optimal way to demonstrate that I had gotten my strength back. This trip certainly fulfilled that goal. Not only did I hike over 30 miles or bungee jump from a suspended glass room, but I grew as a person. I learned that attitude is the key to getting through anything and it's the tiniest shift in perspective that allows you to overcome difficulties. I came home so proud with all that I was able to accomplish, with a new optimistic mindset and, not to mention, a few lifelong friends. I would not trade this experience for anything.

(I wrote a lovely review but it got deleted by accident so this one will be less lovely.)

To be honest, going on my New Zealand/Australia trip was probably the best decision I've made to date. There wasn't a single moment during the trip where I thought to myself "darn, I regret this." I have so many wonderful memories and fantastic stories, It has made my friends at home totally sick of me.
Obviously there were some obstacles during the trip. Normally I would list examples but each group will have different difficulties presented to them (and different solutions to those problems). Regardless, the good times we had far outweighed the hard.
One of my favorite experiences was Canyoning and Repelling in Katoomba, AUS. I find heights challenging (and not always in a good way) but for some reason repelling down the 30 meter waterfall was invigorating instead of terrifying. Amazingly enough, I have a reason for this glorious change: About halfway through our trip, we realized that every experience we have is preparing us for the one that follows. (Ex. Volunteering for canoeing trip, canoeing trip for hiking trip, hiking trip for more volunteering, etc.). In each stage of the trip, we became stronger and more understanding. We also learned important life skills like how to work in a big group, how to use your strengths, and how to enjoy each day despite its challenges.
I am so grateful for all of the experiences that the NZ/AUS trip gave me. Everyday tested our limits and provided new challenges while exposing us to two amazing countries and to so many wonderful people. I hope that someday I can send my children on their own PD trip.

As someone with limited international travel experience I was a little bit uncertain as to whether or not the Southeast Asia PD trip was right for me. Not only was I unfamiliar with the region and culture, but I really just wasn't sure of what to expect. Luckily, Pacific Discovery has an incredible reputation in the Chicago area and I talked with numerous past participants and parents who strongly encouraged me to put my worries aside and go. They raved about the expertise and skill of the leaders as well as the incredible variety of activities during the trip. The day I decided to accept a position in the Southeast Asia program was terrifying, but undoubtably one of the best decision I've made thus far in my life.

One of the many wonderful things about PD is that the programs appeal to a wide variety of people. Those who feel that they need structure in their trip will appreciate the detailed schedule book that every participant receives at the start of the trip with guidelines for each day. And those who crave independence will love the free time participants are given to wander and explore new areas after the scheduled events for the day are complete. In my opinion, this approach gives participants the best of both worlds: the opportunity to see the tourist highlights (such as Angkor Wat and the Cu Chi tunnels) and then the ability to plan their own mini trips where some of the best memories are made. Rogue tuk-tuk rides, impromptu karaoke, wandering the Chiang Mai night market, finding grocery stores...these are the memories I look back on and laugh about! This level of independence has made me much more confident in my ability to travel solo and push myself outside of my comfort zone in foreign places.

Before I get too carried away, I need to address the two incredible Pacific Discovery leaders on my trip: Susan and Ellie. Their level of knowledge and expertise in Asia was invaluable to the success of our group. Nearly every time we changed location, Susan and Ellie called the group together for a meeting to discuss historical significance, as well as cultural norms and expectations. In our scheduled books they had restaurant recommendations and activities we might find interesting during out free time. Witnessing the many relationships Susan and Ellie had formed with locals in Asia only increased my growing respect for Pacific Discovery. Hotel workers, our bus drivers, tour guides and host families remembered having PD programs in the past and were excited to see our leaders. I always felt safe and comfortable with Susan and Ellie, and their personal connection with area and relationship with locals allowed them to problem solve instantly. You're going to hit roadblocks in every trip, but Susan and Ellie handled each scenario with authority and confidence.

All in all, I cannot recommend Pacific Discovery high enough. I had the time of my life on this trip and I want to encourage as many people as possible to take the leap and sign up. You will be challenged mentally and physically, but you will also have a fantastic group of 14 participants there to support you. I am so impressed with the level of detail and attention that every aspect of the trip is given, from transportation to credible tour guides. Rachel and Scott are incredible resources who answered my every question and calmed my anxious parents. Thank you! The people I met in PD are lifelong friends and the types of people I feel lucky to have been able to meet; they all have that innate passion for travel and adventure that I love to be surrounded by. This is a fast paced trip and you cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. I looked at every gap semester program available before committing to PD and I never found one with comparable levels of organization, dedication to students and experience. PD offers the perfect balance of adventure and culture that is hard to find in semester-long programs. You'll do everything from cooking classes in Thailand, sampling street food in Chiang Mai, kayaking through Halong Bay, motorbiking in Hue and an amazing service project in Camodia. You will have the best experience of your life with Pacific Discovery and begin to create those memories that you know will last a lifetime. Go on a Pacific Discovery trip! You won't regret it!

I had the most amazing time on my Pacific Discovery trip in Southeast Asia. Having traveled before with my family I was looking for a program during my gap year that would provide me independence and support while traveling in a new and foreign place. Pacific Discovery did just that-there is a range of people that come on their trips and they offer a lot of flexibility in their travel schedule to accommodate that. This meant that our schedule was well-balanced with group activities with everything from volunteering to rock-climbing to kayaking and free time to explore the night markets or go out to bars to meet other travelers. This isn't a program where they are going to caudal you and keep you in a "western bubble" but they don't just throw you in without any advice and guidance of how to navigate the new cultures and cities either. I was lucky to have two leaders on my trip and both of them were well traveled in the area and one of them had already led the trip before. I felt like they were very knowable about the history, culture and sites that we visited throughout the entire trip.

One of the things I think is very unique to Pacific Discovery and that I valued so much is the effort they put in to maintain ethical travel practices. It has become so common for people to travel that I think people sometimes forget about the impact they have as travelers in another country. Pacific Discovery makes it a point to encourage their participants to learn about the history and culture of the countries before arriving as well as while traveling (there is information about each location along with language tips and more in the thorough travel itineraries they provide you!). We had group discussions and readings as well as lessons in basic Thai and how to bow properly. Our leaders also taught us some of the more nuanced elements of the the cultures-things that I would have probably missed had I traveled alone. Knowing these things while traveling makes the experience that much richer.

Pacific Discovery is also very intentional about their decision to participate in service activities while traveling. After traveling with another group where I felt like I would just show up in a community and teach english (completely unqualified) for a few days, it was refreshing to feel like the service projects we participated in were with organizations PD had relationships with and knew our help would be useful and welcomed. I also really appreciated their commitment to leaving as small of an environmental impact as possible. The small size and strong ethical practices of this company makes these things very unique.

Also-our accommodations were extremely comfortable and I always felt safe, this is not really roughing it (if you don't count the occasional holes in the ground for toilets!). But after all these small details i don't want to forget to just say how AMAZING every single day of this trip was. The mix of adventure, volunteer and just exploring was perfect. I would repeat this trip in a heartbeat-it sounds so cheesy but honestly every single day I learned so much about myself and about the countries and cultures we were visiting. We had a great group dynamic and the perfect balance of group activities and independent travel. OH and the food in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam is AMAZING (and so cheap!). I could go on and on about how much I loved this program and I would say if you are thinking about PD-just do it! Every program member comes from somewhere different and PD somehow has a way of meeting everyone where they're at and providing an amazing experience.